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Thursday, December 27, 2012

St. John the Evangelist

Happy Third Day of Christmas

Patron Saints Index: Saint John the Apostle: "The only one of the Twelve not to forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion, standing at the foot of the cross. Made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, he took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at the lake of Tiberias, he was the first to recognize Him. "

I've always had a soft spot for St. John too. The church I grew up in was St. John's. I was married there as was my mother and sister. My grandmother was the church secretary and my grandfather helped there as an usher and with the fish fry.

I love that St. John was the only apostle that was not martyred, although he did have his fair share of trials. This link gives some fascinating tid bits about this special saint.

St. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of St. James the Greater (Feast day: 25 July) who, together, were given the nickname "Boanerges" ("Sons of Thunder") by Christ Himself. The men of Zebedee's family were fishermen, and it is possible that SS. John and James were disciples of St. John the Baptist when they encountered the One of Whom the Forerunner spoke. They were called just after SS. Peter and Andrew -- two other fishermen brothers -- left everything behind to follow Jesus, and SS. Peter, James, and John had the most prominent positions of all the Apostles. It was these three who were present for the Transfiguration and Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. Peter and John were the two who prepared for the Last Supper, at which John -- described as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" -- sat next to Our Lord, with his head on Christ's chest. St. John went with Peter to the palace of the high priest after Jesus was arrested -- but it was John alone among the Apostles who stayed with Christ during the Crucifixion.

After the Resurrection, it was SS. John and Peter among the Apostles who ran to the empty tomb after being told by St. Mary Magdalen that He had risen. After the Ascension and Pentecost, St. John remained prominent, accompanying St. Peter when the lame man was healed in the Temple, being thrown into prison with St. Peter, and preaching with St. Peter in Samaria.

When Herod Agrippa I came to power and the Apostles were scattered, he is said to have gone to Asia Minor for a time, returning to Jerusalem by A.D. 51 and taking part in the "Council of Jerusalem" spoken of in Acts.

Under the reign of Domitian, tradition relates that he was by order of the emperor cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came forth unhurt and was banished to the Greek island of Patmos -- a small (10 miles by 6 miles) volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, near the coast of Turkey, where the veil was lifted and he was granted the vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem which he recounted in his Apocalypse ("apocalypse" means "unveiling"). During the reign of Trajan, he returned to Ephesus where he lived to a very, very old age. He was the only one of the Apostles who wasn't martyred.Though he wasn't martyred, it wasn't for his enemies' lack of trying. According to legend, he was served poisoned wine, but survived because he blessed the wine before he put it to his lips; the poison rose from the chalice in the shape of a serpent. In his happy memory, Catholics bring wine to church, which the priest blesses, turning it into a sacramental called the "Love of St. John." Catholics use this sacramental wine for special occasions throughout the year and to give to the sick.

Father: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou didst call Thyself the vine and Thy holy Apostles the branches; and out of all those who love Thee, Thou didst desire to make a good vineyard. Bless this wine and pour into it the might of Thy benediction so that every one who drinks or takes of it, may through the intercession of Thy beloved disciple, the holy Apostle and Evangelist John, be freed from every disease or attack of illness and obtain health of body and soul. Who livest and reignest forever.

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"Thirteenth Rule. To be right in everything, we ought always to hold that the white which I see, is black, if the Hierarchical Church so decides it, believing that between Christ our Lord, the Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride, there is the same Spirit which governs and directs us for the salvation of our souls. "St. Ignatius Loyola.

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"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. "C.S. Lewis

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning fromme. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself." Ez 33:7-9

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"A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

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"It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.” - William G. McAdoo

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In memoriam

Long beyond the empty cradle,Through the coming years, I will carry you all my life, And I will praise the One whose chosen me to carry you.
Such a short time, Such a long road, All this madness,
But I know that the silence has brought me to His voice

"I will not forget you... I have held you in the palm of my hand." Isaiah 49:15